£45,000 target smashed for AC/DC singer statue

Gordon Cook

One of Kirriemuir’s most famous sons is set to be commemorated by a bronze statue, now that a crowd-funding appeal has succeeded.

Bon Scott, who was born in 1946 and whose full name was Ronald Belford Scott, was lead singer with the Australian rock band AC/DC from 1974 until he died in 1980, aged just 33.

The statue will be sited in the car park in Bellie’s Brae in the town.

Originally the plan was to locate it in the town centre, but this was not well received.

The statue is to be the work of John McKenna, who has made a clay mould of Bon Scott, carrying bagpipes.

McKenna’s other work includes the Jock Stein Memorial at Celtic Park, and a miner in Moodiesburn.

Each April Kirriemuir hosts a Bonfest in Bon Scott’s honour, and it is planned that the statue will be completed and in place in time for next year’s event, the tenth, when it will be officially unveiled.

The momentum to collect money for the statue came from DD8 Music, which promotes Kirriemuir’s musical talent.

Graham Galloway, one of the organisers, said that any money which comes in over and above the £45,000 target will be used for a memorial garden in the vicinity of the statue.

He added: “People come from all over the world to celebrate Bonfest, but the statue will attract fans to Kirriemuir all year round.”